One Week Financial Makeover

You know anyone can experience financial hardship at any time were hearing about it every day.

Thankfully, God's promise to meet our needs and he is always faith.

Still, what about March preparing for me times is not only common sense and backed up by God's word Bible so what can you do to get ready financial planning future. Rob West has a list of things to help you get started take calls on anything actually hundred 525-7000 jot it down 805 7000. I'm Steve Moore, the one we natural makeover. That's nice right here moneywise. This topic always reminds me of that tiny creature in perfect verb six go to the end consider her ways and be wise without having any chief officer or ruler.

She prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Yes she does. Steve, that's a great example of preparing for the worst about one of my favorites is in Genesis 41, when Joseph as overseer for the Pharaoh start upgrading. It reads, and the seven years of famine began just as Joseph had said there was famine and all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt. There was food. My family actually.

We've just been studying Genesis in our family devotions when it's read that last night very apropos.

And I think safe to say that God does want us to be prepared from these verses and I know you have a seven day plan to help us do just that. So where do we start well that's exactly right.

Let me say first of these items are not complicated or difficult to do and they won't take a lot of time. Plus, you only have to do one a day.

Hence the seven-day plan. So in a week you'll have a great start on being prepared for a financial setback so they want here we go. Take five minutes to sign up for a personal finance newsletter or blog. Christian credit counselors is a great one about debt management and improving your finances in general, you'll find it@christiancreditcounselors.org our friend Crystal pain. She is a frequent contributor here moneywise. Life is a daily newsletter with money-saving tips and deals. You can sign up for that. It money saving mom.com and there's another great one it sound mind investing.org and others at small charge for that one, but what a wonderful resource sound mind investing yeah great information there. Okay. Simple enough. What's next day to his son make it to do list of 10 financial tasks you've been putting off. Some examples might include checking your credit score. If you have a credit card. Your issuer probably offers. This is a free service and related to that. Get your credit report from annual credit report.com that's the place to go. You can get one from each of the three credit reporting bureaus each year for free.

Another idea might be set up a high interest savings account at an online bank or get disability insurance. If you don't have it or just make out your will.

If you haven't done that want you to keep going until you have 10 items on your list okay what about day three here in our one week financial makeover. What's next the day three is all about doing something so go back to that list.

I just had you prepared and I'll pick one thing from the list and do it. That'll give you the satisfaction of crossing it off. Then make a commitment to do another item each week. You're much more likely to finish the list. If you focus on just one item at a time and I guess that falls under the heading of how do you eat an elephant yes exactly one bite at a time and a floor here we go set up a system to track your spending enough times are tough and we realize a lot of you are in a that's a really tight spot right now, especially because of what were facing with COBIT.

19 you want to know where every dollar is going. You can do this manually with a small notebook where you literally write down everything you spend, or perhaps an Excel spreadsheet of the easiest way will be with an app like the soon to be released moneywise and up.

That's a preview of coming attractions were kind of partial to that one, but there are other great ones out there that are available today. Bottom line is, find what works for you and track your spending are a great and we are now with just a little bit of time were up to date five yeah five day five flows right out a day for once you're tracking your spending.

You get an idea of how you can make your dollars stretch further try to identify one area a week where you can trim or cut back okay what about day six to have time squeeze that in. You know it's something we talk a lot about Stephen. It's at the heart of financial preparedness for lean times and that his work up your Mayday budget where you prioritize your four essentials and then day seven. Assuming this is a Sunday. If that's the way it falls. Take some time to reflect and meditate on God's financial principles. There's 2300 of them in the Bible so no shortage and that you'll be really okay will come back after the break and talk about day seven as we prepare for the financial makeover. This is moneywise money and life run on the same track. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems like your money is heading in a different direction from your goal, and never enough three keys to financial contentment. Author Ron blue helps you to break down all your financial options to a basic floor and then shows you how to keep it all chugging along in the right direction on the same track never enough three keys to financial contentment available when you click the store button at moneywise live out of work if you need investing guidance, you probably want help that's grounded in God's were taken by sound mind investing since 1990 SM I is health tens of thousands of Christians acquire wisdom and confidence in their investment investing experience how much you have doing that you can learn to be in good will still carry out investing more information about SMI and financial wisdom for living well is available online.

Sound mind investing.are you ever tempted to start this day of worship the right way and not be client tempted to say things you might not usually or treat the people you love pretty poorly anything for you, dear actually get to church. Maybe you want to do things you normally would slowpoke to remind you, Satan tries to attack us when our defenses are down.

When you feel we can buy temptations, remember to ask yourself what would Jesus do, I can't see morning time. Hey I want to introduce you to a family visiting the Conley never know how your actions. If that is fronting you of freedom and peace of mind. Christian credit counselors can help. We are a nationwide nonprofit counseling organization has helped over 3000 individuals in the last 27 years get out of credit card debt 80% faster while honoring that data and phone to learn how Christian credit counselors can help you visit Christian credit counselors.org Christian credit counselors not call 800-557-1985 with us today is moneywise. Live your post is Rob last time Steve Moran during this time in our country well in the world, reality, many people are our experiencing financial hardship.

They had not planned for in these kinds of things Rob as you know well are much easier to handle. Not easy, necessarily, but easy to handle.

If you have a bit of a surplus in your savings account and in order to do that you have to have a plan. Were talking about a seven day plan here and we were just coming up on day seven. So when you have force. Yeah, you and I mentioned this one briefly but I'll just mention it again because it was worth repeating. And that is that on the last day, whether that falls on a Sunday because you started on a Monday and you're finishing it out or really any day. We want you to really meditate on God's financial principles. There are 2300 verses in God's word speaks to money and possessions. And here's what's can happen.

You reorient your thinking about money around God's perspective, beginning with God owning it all getting with the fact that money is a tool to be used not as an end, but a means to an end in us to accomplish God's purposes in our life. And then we develop an eternal perspective about holding money loosely and living simply in being generous with others and not allowing money to compete with God for first position in our lives and realizing that we can get ensnared by the things that money can buy. If were not careful and greed can creep in and not to mention comparison in the trap.

That is, you don't go when we compare ourselves to others. So I think really renewing our minds around his financial principles which is why moneywise live exists so we can think about money from God's perspective is so key it really is the starting point and when you get to that place. Then everything will change because now every dissenting decision spending decision is a spiritual because you're allocating God's resources and you're doing it in line with his principles in prayer. So that's where we want you to finish the day and if you don't know where to go to start that a pickup a book like master your money from Ron blue or your money counts from Howard Deighton or the stewardship Bible which is on our website@moneywiselive.org just with all these passages related to money highlighted in green as you work your way through God's word. You can just meditate on those. So think that's a great way to finish out the week and if you're just beginning some sort of the spending plan or investment plan or giving God control of your finances, whether it's whether you're at the very beginning are you're at the end orb somewhere in the middle.

Obviously, we want God's wisdom as we do this because as Rob just mentioned every financial decision is a spiritual decision and obviously Rob during this crisis that the world is facing, including all of us here in the US. This is when we talk to God or need to talk to God more than ever before. I would submit, and this should be a great day to do it right. Well it sure would be out of this is the national Day of prayer. It's the first Thursday in May. Coming right out of Habakkuk 24 which is the theme verse this year the theme being praying God's glory across the earth and in our earlier today. Steve, I actually read through the Pres.'s proclamation establishing today's national Day of prayer, and I was really encouraged by that encourage you to read through it and I know there's going to be a national broadcast tonight with Rick Warren is Robert Morrison. Will Graham and I think Andrew Palau Michael W Smith, and I believe it's airing on Moody broadcasting. Among other places, that 8 PM tonight.

Yeah that's that's something you might want to avail yourself of Moody's been doing this for a number of years now Moody radio and if you visit the website easily found online and you might want to check that out. A nice way to spend part of the evening anyway with your family.

Now a nice way to spend the next hour might be with us right here at moneywise. Live you can do that by giving us a call. We have open lines we have 12345 open lines at 800-525-7000 800-525-7000. Anything financial that you're wondering about let's chat about it. Let's begin by going to Michigan hey David, thanks for your patience. How can we help you okay I got a question for you like church we had boarded for the overnight restriction we had boarded the church for outreach ministries that we been developing children's ministries and various other things and we had purchased the van. Then we… The cold at night. Anything and everything like that we protect all parking lot at the church all I chronological when we get back open at the church, what would you recommend for correction, but I really not a Lord will legally vote by a band but I abandon public back and look at finances. Currently, the we are here to reach people and we want to do that we want to do it in a in a responsible way and I question well it's a great question, Dave, and I think you're taking the right approach. You know I wouldn't just automatically make that purchase. Because the vote was made prior to the new reality I think as stewards of God's resources. Whether that's the money that God hasn't trusted to you personally or whether as a church body you've been entrusted with resources making decisions on behalf of the church as a leadership team. We always need to say based on what we know today based on prayer, but based on also the financial realities and now, in light of the environment were in with giving me out when entering into a recession, albeit one that might be short-lived to nose, but the reality is we are in a recession.

Given that, what decisions do we need to make and I think in times like this whether you are evaluating this personally or for your church. I think you have to consider all factors that you know what time we know more today than you knew when this vote was cast and we want to look for opportunities to cut back in a way that's prudent and appropriate, and certainly capital spending would be one of the first things you would want to look at. So I would push the pause button and begin to evaluate trends, evaluate giving evaluate your capital and cash reserves that you have on hand in and not make any decisions unless you and the leadership team feel like in light of the new reality and the data you're seeing, and the health of your financial status as a church that it makes sense for you to proceed.

Only based on really need that exists in the financial means to do so, and apart from that, I think this would be a project you might want to delay or I will look at going to get back together and make a bet for the reason I'm calling your good knowledgeable answers and I appreciate that. I thank you very much for your very welcome David Miller bless you will pretty good. You will wisdom as you make this decision. Thank you, David. You know, obviously sharing the gospel is one of the key reasons that were even here on the planet. But then the Bible gives lots of other principles about being generous about being prudent God's word says there is wisdom in many counselors also reminds us that the debtor is slave to the lender. So we have to look at all these principles prayerfully.

Again, this is the national Day of prayer and in your body there. If everyone is praying with the same open heart and the same will took to follow God. In this we think that the his will will be made apparent to you and we wish you the best. Thank you very very much 800-525-7000.

Molly is in Winfield, Illinois, and Molly, you're a professional makeup and hair stylist. Is that correct sure what your question is everything on common common but I know family and friends and client that I care. And a lot of the professional working and pocket cash money whatever it she athletic and so that's something that I've been doing for a few years wondering unethical and immoral again.

No Christian teaching something that you can reconsider you for suggesting the question Molly and the transparency with which you've done so, you know, I think that checking your spirit is something you should listen to. I would be the quick to say that we need to report all income that we bring in and even if were doing in the little different context, or perhaps for a different clientele. I think it still income in the IRS's definition and therefore should be included in, no matter how it's paid whether it's cash or check, and it can be easy to get into that trap of just got a developing some habits around certain payments that are made in just pocketing those in not reporting them but I don't think that does align with the teaching of God's word. I think we want to be above reproach. We want to be honest and operate with integrity. I think the Lord will honor and bless that and I think that Jesus was very clear when he responded to the question that was brought to him whose images on this inscription, he answered Caesar's and they said give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's and I think we need to take that queue and pay what we owe no more, but no less on the full amount of the income we receive in and I would certainly lump in the situation you're describing and echoing in my mind.

You know are welcome yeah I think that's perhaps the Holy Spirit just perking your heart and saying that you think through this a bit more and I appreciate you acting on that calling Molly God bless you, thank you very much. I think that is going to bless your honesty and your generous heart. Thank you very much for calling today and if you like to call in with the tough question like that. 1-800-525-7000 800-525-7000 is Robin was the one side and Steve Moore. Would you like your life to be infused with joy.

Would you like to interject an internal dimension in the most ordinary day on the radio says you can when you discover the treasure principle and a concise powerpack style is newly revised and updated book offers a six and a plan for finding the pleasure and eternal rewards of the treasure principle what you discover. Life will never look the same treasure principle is available when you click the store button moneywise live.org. Here's a great deal more about our money than most of us imagine Jesus is more about our use of money and possessions and about anything else, including both heaven and hell in managing God's money, author Randy Alcorn breaks it all down in a simple, easy to follow format that makes it the perfect reference to if you're interested in gaining a solid biblical understanding of money, possessions and eternity managing God's money is available when you store button moneywise live.org answer everything to which the tears click away on your tiptoes today.everything.and you cannot be your own master is engaging in self think we get that we understand about the contents of this will get down on ourselves and that something in the guilty conscience makes us react to criticism. But did you see an excellent sample again with me here when we find broken a moral code need to be sent there is a lot we are being defensive to me for thinking because we need time oil or God created man, he created him with a heart he listens for thankful for the grace of this program to request 5757/21 is not God's plan for your financial life do that would like to try. Otherwise should go for a walk or something. 800-525-7000. This is a state for what it's arguing for a walk is absolutely anything else you are thinking, you know, I will ask for her to pose. If you consider yourself a part of the moneywise live community to think about this. Perhaps if you have more than you need to be a part of our team that supports this ministry, you know, there are many that are out there really struggling right now were certainly not directing this to you if you find yourself in this position we want to serve you and support you.

That's what we have free moneywise coaches that's why we do this broadcast. We have resources it moneywise live.org soon were to have an app that will help you manage your money and that's all what we want to do free of charge, but those who perhaps find themselves with a bit more than they need. God has blessed them, and they have a bit of excess beyond the giving to your local church. We would invite you to give to moneywise media this is brought to you each day only because of the generous support of the moneywise community. You can give safely and quickly online it moneywise live.org just click the donate button and we would love to hear from you in this season where we could certainly use your support now more than ever this month and next for a gift of $25 or more, you get the moneywise edition of the financial hope Bible study. I think that'll be a real encouragement to you as we bring hope to you, through God's word around your money and you'll see that when you visit our website moneywise live.org and at no cost. We would like to invite you up to sign up for the brand-new moneywise Eve magazine. It's a quarterly publication designed to help you in your journey to financial freedom. The brand-new first addition just came out and if you had over the moneywise live.org and click subscribe. Put your name and we won't sell your name ever, and there is no cost for the magazine. Would love to send you the new addition and the year of the issues. First are the first issues theme happens to be embracing financial hope, and this is something we worked on many months ago. Now we find that this topic embracing financial hope is very apropos for the times that were in don't think absolutely all right again.

You can find out more about who we are what we do and the moneywise Eve magazine when you visit moneywise live.org Cleveland, Ohio. Benjamin what your question today for Bob hi Rob, I two-part question I get so I work full-time man. My company gives me 401(k) so I don't have much knowledge in investing so I didn't know where to start and some kind of need some sort or somewhere and direction to help understand learn about it on the second part of the question as I'm coming up on my emergency fund, done that.

Maybe I in a couple months maybe I think I'm getting at six months of emergency fund saved horizontal after that. Yes, after that, maybe in a month or so would be a good time to start investing.

I'm thinking of opening up IRA.

Maybe you love these question is a good time absolutely is couple of thoughts on that first let's start with how you can begin to learn about investing. I want you to learn about investing, but I want you to do it with God's perspective in mind. And that's why when were done here today. I want you to hold on the line and Judy will grab your information will send you a copy complementary of Austin prior sound mind investing handbook, and I think this will begin to explain God's perspective on investing, but also the how-to's and mechanics of what you need to know so work your way through that book.

It'll be a real blessing to you. Number two I would avail yourself of the information that your 401(k) provider will have for you about the specific investments in your plan. So as you're reading about investing the sound mind investing handbook.

You also have those investment options at the ready so you can really begin to digest not only the principles but how they relate to the specific investment options you have. I will tell you the simplest approach. If you just really don't understand what to choose is probably what's going to be offered and called an age-based portfolio where it the allocation is simply based on when you are expecting to retire and they build their portfolio accordingly. That really takes a lot of the guesswork out of it so check that out and if you hold the line when we come back will get to your next question. That's right. Thanks very much, Ben, call your next arrondissement was how should we as Christians think about and testing.

What if we could invest our money in a way that aligns with what we believe that Eventide we believe it is possible to love God and love our neighbor in the very practice of investing we design investments for performance and a better world so you can invest for the future with a sense of wholeness and purpose. We call this investing that makes the world rejoice.

More information is available@investeventide.com Christian healthcare ministries enables believers to meet their healthcare costs affordably, biblically and compassionately is not insurance but a voluntary cost-sharing ministry based on the biblical example of Christians sharing each other's needs and members are defined under the law for not having health Christian healthcare ministries might be your health cost solution call 800-791-6225 or visit CH ministries.org Moody radio verse of the week is found in first Peter chapter 1 verses 13 and 15. Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober minded set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

But is he who called you is holy, also be holy in all your conduct. That's first Peter chapter 1 verses 13 and 15 radio verse of the week is call one 800. Do you know if you have enough enough money house. Do you know how much is enough. If not, one blue can help with this book. Master your money a step-by-step plan for experiencing financial contentment. Learn how to save, invest, and give wisely create a long-term financial plan and how to get out of debt. Find it all in master your money by Ron blue available when you click the start button moneywise live.org is on John Scott Pres. Trump is celebrating the national day of prayer ceremony in the White House Rose Garden with distinguished speakers VP Pentz and the First Lady will also be participating in the criminal case against Pres. Trump's first national security advisor Michael Flynn will be dropped by the Justice Department. Pres. Trump quickly celebrating that decision and said he hoped a big price would be paid by those who had brought it.

The case was brought by special counsel Robert Muller prosecutors a general Flynn had tried to or have lied to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador in January 2017 interview stocks were higher as Wall Street had its best date of the week without getting 211 points today, but as backup 125 and the S&P 500. I have 32 this is SR and use this today. Thanks for listening.

Please tell a friend about the program you enjoy it, they just might enjoy it as well. Chicago, Illinois hello Nicole, we help out share I know how old Ron traditional what very good. Well, if you have a Roth IRA you can do a nurse using a Roth 401(k), you can roll that into a Roth IRA so you would want to keep it in a like titled account in the sense that the Roth function makes it after-tax dollars that's going in as opposed to tax-deferred, where you get the deduction on the contribution so you would only want to roll that Roth 401(k) to either another Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA and given that your new employer does not offer the Roth 401(k) option you want to go directly to the Roth IRA. If that makes sense. Okay, you're welcome Nicole, thanks for calling a blessing. Thank you, Tampa Bay, Florida Annetta, thanks so much for your patience. How can we help you out all right 401(k), I don't have one credit card. I don't have a lot of you know like that my client officially single while men and make a fraction of mining project. If I even agree with all current like I got elected for the current because it really hurting my debt to income and I want to get out so long that that make man so getting discouraged like my comment bondage to the student loan debt. And it like dictating my entire life certainly sees me when I can certainly appreciate where you're coming from and this is just a such a growing challenge for so many because of the rising cost of higher education, which continues to increase, outpacing inflation and these expensive degrees that don't often lead to jobs that can support them and I think that's why we have to be so careful to only take on that with the honest evaluation of the job that will result from it and whether or not the debt can be serviced or whether we need to take an entirely different approach and you obviously at this point, you've got it and so I think you know with any decisions that we've made in our financial life, especially those that result in debt. We gotta learn from them. We got embrace our role as steward recognizing God owns it all and leave it all at the foot of the cross and operate by God's principles. Moving forward in all the decisions you make with the resources he's entrusted to you, the debt is here so we need to get rid of it as quick as we can, and that may mean as a result of this that you got a delay that home purchase. And that's okay but how do you know you renting longer because you want to spend time trying to dramatically reduce this debt. Even though you're not building, home equity, I wouldn't worry about that or lose sleep over that.

I think what's most important is that you have a solid financial foundation under you so it's going to go back to the basics and this is not going to be rocket science to you, but I'll just remind you of the fact that really the starting point is to understand God's way of handling money, but then quickly get to that spending plan and you're going to need to continue to be very diligent about keeping your lifestyle and check keeping your spending at a minimum because what we need right now is margin margin for you to send extra to this student loan debt over and above the minimum payments to the best of your ability. Assuming you don't have any credit card debt which is done so I could do, and assuming you have your emergency fund in place.

Meeting at least three months expenses in a liquid savings account for the unexpected. And if you have both of those that I'd really focus all of your extra money that which you have today, and perhaps additional funds you could free up by even cutting back further toward debt reduction and just try to get this going in the right direction. And then there will be time later to begin thinking about saving for a down payment on a house, but I think the extent to which you can really prioritize getting this paid down sooner rather than later, will be a real blessing to you in the days and that makes sense. Thanks, Annetta yes at your discouragement to me just pray for you before he let you go here about Lord we just look fun to you large clear by her call today, her heart's desire is to honor you to be found faithful in what you've entrusted to her.

She's discouraged by the debt that she hasn't even use the word bondage and Lord, we know that in Christ were free and we can leave all of our prior decisions at the foot of the cross so we distrust user provider and asked that you bring that provision that she would be able to not only cover her expenses and save for the future and give generously, but to eradicate this debt once and for also encourage her today walk with her, give her wisdom and counsel as she makes decisions and we just pray for protection and provision over her life in Jesus name Amen fun. Again, we appreciate your call today and we wish you the very best and Rob. Obviously these days there are lots of people who are chagrined, who are depressed to who are worried or wondering how my going to make that next house payment or car payment to me this is a unique time in my lifetime and perhaps for most of our people listening. So what's your encouragement for those who are really struggling. There are spouses that aren't agreeing on things and plans that are having to be put on hold and just where is God in all this while God is our rock and our strength in her provider and sustainer and we need to see it that way you know when our world is shaken, it draws us back.

I was just reading last night.

In Exodus when Pharaoh you know and the things were tough and the plagues were visible, he was willing to come in the line with what God was saying as soon as things were taken off his heart was hardened and we can't get in that situation we gotta trust God in every situation now is a time to lean into God's grace and his mercy he will provide for you and we gotta take advantage of the opportunities in front of us meeting. What are we doing with what God is entrusted to us. Are we making the hard decisions and cutting back are we availing ourselves of what stereo we the government is doing its part, you may need to call in your church in a difficult season to perhaps provide some resources to fill, then close the gap. Whatever it is, just start on your knees acquaint yourself with these principles we talk about from God's word.

Perhaps turn down the noise of this word if that's got the world. If that's causing you to become discouraged and I really meditate on God's word and I think that will lift your spirits and allow you to see perhaps that he will guide and direct you every step of the way. It's not easy Steve. The are challenging times for so many. And yet God is near. That's right. And it's not a radio program. It's not a radio preacher. It's not something you want. You know it's it's it's nothing earthly that ultimately is going to sustain you.

It's the impact of the Bible of God's word, which is not only type on paper, but other something supernatural that happens in our spirit when we reflect on what he says that for instance the Philippians 47 rejoice in the Lord always let your gentleness be evident to all. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God. Let that sink in and ask God to help me write back with more money. Why this is a very good liar. I am a car guy here to help you understand God's purpose for your life to the eyes of a layman checking at the airport. This guy can't recognize it as if there was a key to the success of a business. I really said trusting God my whole heart and allowing him to direct my steps to rescue me from all my problems. A greater Proverbs 35 responded and that's what I get to do because I'm starting a business. We laughed, I said God bless you and I walked away knowing I just move that's got close to God. In addition, however Lisa was steady right beside us.

Listening intently to every word so she was moved closer to God as well and that's what you call it to to the price of what your job is to guide revival outside the walls of your church by moving everyone here with today closer to Jesus.

If you want to know how easy that is go tomorrow. TW. Do you know if you have enough money house. Do you know how much is enough. If not, one blue can help with this book. Master your money a step-by-step plan for experiencing financial contentment. Learn how to save and invest and give wisely to create a long-term financial plan and how to get out of debt.

Find it all in master your money by Ron blue available when you click the start button moneywise live to work. Hi Rob last year. Stories can be a powerful way to motivate people if you been helped by listening to moneywise live sharing your story will encourage others to follow God's financial principles and help freedom to serve the Lord more fully ask you to consider leaving a testimony after the program by calling 800-525-7000 800-525-7000 thanks and God bless you.

This is anagram lots of daily life for daily living. One of the most sobering signs pointing to his return that Jesus gave in the spiritual realm was her Matthew 24 nine you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and be hated by all nations because of me. Persecution of Christians has increased dramatically in the last two decades, Christians in Syria have been crucified.

Christians in Nigeria shot right enslaved persecution of Christians is a long nightmare. North Korea and increasing occurrence in India and China.

Anti-Semitism also is on the rise, Jews are being physically attacked in various parts of the world. Verbal assaults are common Nazi swastikas appear on the walls of college campuses.

Listen to me this signs Jesus gave in the spiritual realm are being fulfilled and point to his imminent return, make sure you know what time it is and live your life accordingly Jesus is coming. This is anagram lot with us today. Thanks so much for tuning in and we know there are lots of radio stations and then you have your dial set to the station and thanks very much for that. Let's get you one sunrise, Florida Leslie, I understand you want to go swimming is that the situation all audit we would like to get out till calling them back.

My home and back in question is how I like to go about donning a pool which is what we want to do over four months to get it installed and I think the lady can pull the hope now or what should I do get your couple thoughts and going here in South Florida.

It's a lot cheaper to put a pool and then there is another parts of the country, but nevertheless still an expensive proposition.

Overall, you know, the first issue is if this money was invested in stocks. Assuming it was not in a retirement account will get to that.

The second okay then the challenge is, if it was fully invested in your ear, theoretically pulling it out at levels considerably lower than they were no six or eight weeks ago just because of the drop we've seen in the stock market now and we recovered quite a bit but were still down significantly from the levels we were at the middle of February, so I realize the timing is such that you said it may happen over the next four months, but what I would hate to see as you pull this money out of the market.

While the markets down 20% and you start into the pool and we may go down another leg here if for some reason something doesn't materialize the way we want with COBIT 19 and the treatments in the vaccine and how well it's going reopening our economy and whether some states have to return to cell sheltering in place. This market could certainly have another leg down. If this recession were to become deeper or more prolonged and so that's not a time when you want to be pulling money out of stocks that I the second thing is, what was the purpose of this money and separate from it. Do you have money that you're saving for the long term for retirement.

Do you have an emergency fund and is your debt under control. Give me a sense of those things real quick and I had you know are on our our job you had my back, my extra money we have from our 401(k) something that we put a little money to quell well well okay well and so you may decide specifically for that reason that despite this pullback in the market.

You had put it aside for this reason you enjoyed the appreciation that came over the last 11 years or whatever portion of your invest in the market. While this account is been rising. It served its purpose. The timing is an ideal. Ideally, we would've taken it all out in February, but we didn't know what we didn't know right and so therefore you may decide we want to press on because our financial house is in order. This is money we have this extra weed like a pool and now's the time to do it. So I think the only consideration is based on what I'm hearing. No red flags. It's just do you want to start that project. Now, given that it's probably you know not to be done until the fall of the South Florida. You can just about swim year-round or do you want to wait and see if this market recovers over the balance of the year, which again that starts to get in the market timing and that's a losing proposition. Because there is just as good a chance that the market is lower than it is today when we get to the end of the year that it is higher, so a little hesitant to do that you'd almost have to say were going to be willing to delay this 1 to 2 years if not think you just press on and recognize you had the money for this purpose and you're gonna build a pool and enjoy it.

By the way, increase the value of your home. At the same time I would recommend you do that, make sure you're on the same page before you make major purchase like this, but if this is the way the Lord leads, and you enjoyed Leslie, thank you very much.

I got bless that's a good thing to pray about before you jump in the Merrillville, Merrillville, Indiana hello Marie, what's your question from last I my car child might provide.

I want to be able to know I make me an investment company and nothing every time they cut every month when it comes back panic panic panic when I'm going to do that but I want to be able to know which way to go right now I don't okay well there's a couple of pieces here.

Marie and I think what might be the best thing for you to do.

I give you some my thoughts, but once we're done here is for you.

This is one of our money wise coaches just go to moneywise live.org. Click on connect with the coach. It may take 30 days for you.

Just because the waiting list but I will get you connected somebody can really help you think through all this.

But really, it starts with you learning God's way of handling money and and when were done here.

I'd like to send you a copy of Howard Dean's book your money counts to get you started on that.

Beyond that, we really need to begin to think and pray about your goals and I think that's a matter of you prayerfully asking the Lord, Lord, what should I be pursuing in terms of my goals not only with my lifestyle. What should I be spending day-to-day month-to-month. But what are those goals that you want me to be saving for in the future. What about the longer term when you're no longer working retirement. What about your college college education. Is there a short or medium term spending goal that you have been able to take a vacation. Nor you replace a car without taking on debt. Things like that. Once you have those goals then it's a function of saying okay. We need to make sure we control our spending so that we free up margin to be able to fund the goals.

An early goal. If you have credit card debt would be to eradicate that credit card debt or right alongside that to build up your emergency fund. Now that's a fund of 3 to 6 months expenses. This liquid you're not gonna receive a return on that. It's not intended to generate a return it's intended to be safe and liquid so you can get to it when you need it. In the event of the unexpected. And as you and I know the unexpected always comes but once that's in place and I realize that's not as simple as it sounds, and it's going to take hard work, and you gotta get the budget you gotta work it when things come out of left field.

We got a deal with it. But once we've got those big rocks in place that we can start thinking about okay now we want to put some money into our 401(k) or I want to start an IRA and make a systematic contribution toward the long term and that's good to be invested even though there still be bumps in the road like were experiencing right now.

Over the long term it's going to do well.

You might or nine or 10% a year on that on average that's at least what we've seen historically. If it's invested properly. So I think it's all gotta be done in the context of a plan that makes sense for you. Realizing it's hard work, but realizing God will provide his wisdom. Through the Bible every step of the way but I realize I threw a lot at you there. What what questions do you have what I worry about pain getting up in my company know to fall back over to look forward to have changed a lot spending because you know I think I got it shot down my knee what you want, you know, feel that what it got like I need to get that I need someone to help me see an incomplete and accountable to the that's exactly right. Do you have a retirement plan available to your work now okay so then the first thing you could do would be to open an IRA and that would get you started. You probably want to do either traditional or Roth IRA.

But let's start with the moneywise coach go to moneywise live.org.

Click on connect with the coach and let them begin to help you get these pieces in place.

Once you do call us back if you have questions we can talk about where you go from here okay Marines that make sense of all I write so it's moneywise live.org and then connect with the coach and then if you have any further questions down the road.

Feel free to get back to us, but they do well wonderful work and I think you'll be able to help you greatly, and we appreciate your phone call today. Thanks very very much and Rob, here's a quick one for your quick emails from Connie. She says we have $8000 in high-interest credit card debt.

We want to do a debt consolidation but don't know what firm or what company to use. What do you suggest any thoughts well Connie, I'm not a big fan of debt consolidation. If that means you're going to take out a new loan to replace the existing loan that's going to be perhaps a longer term even though it's a lower interest rate. The problem is that breeds you, not fixing the problem that led to the debt in the first place because the pressure comes off, and a lifestyle of overspending and excess consumption is can allow the credit card debt to return, except that we can have the consolidation loan on top of it so I'd rather you use a debt management program where we don't replace the debt we leave it there. We close the account. We get the interest rate down. We paid off 80% faster. That's gonna happen with our friends@christiancreditcounselors.org they be delighted to walk alongside you and explain everything you need to know and I go there next alright and if you'd like to send a brief email to Rob keep it brief, just a couple of lines. If you want to hear or read on the year of the.

The address is questions@moneywise.org questions@moneywise.org and don't forget moneywise.org is also where you can go. If you'd like to sign up for the brand-new moneywise magazine.

It's absolutely free moneywise moneywise.org and moneywise this is a partnership right here between Moody radio and moneywise I thanks to Judy and Gabby and Courtney and Rich for their technical expertise. Join us again tomorrow